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Justice News

Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 200 Months For Possession Of A Firearm By A Felon

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-- Terrell Buford, 27, of Chattanooga, Tenn., was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison by the Honorable Harry S. Mattice, Jr., U.S. District Judge. Upon his release from prison Buford will be subject to supervised release by the U.S. Probation Office for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.

In March 2014, law enforcement found Buford in possession of a firearm while executing a narcotics search warrant at his place of business. In May 2014, he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Buford’s prior felony charges included multiple counts of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, as well as aggravated assault and possession of cocaine for resale.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation included the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith J. Edwards represented the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.